Malaysia attracted over 170,000 visitors from the Gulf countries in 2013, and has been rated the world’s top Muslim-friendly holiday destination in a survey released last year.
According to figures, Malaysia received 102,365 tourists from Saudi Arabia in 2012. The total number of tourists from the UAE was 18,233 during this period.
During the first half of 2013 (January to June), Malaysia received over 53,000 visitors from the Kingdom. In addition, the country also received more than 14,500 visitors from Oman, 9,390 from Kuwait and 7,804 from UAE during the same period.
This Asian country with a 60 percent Muslim population mostly attracts Muslim tourists worldwide and has been a frontrunner with regards to anything halal. The country can be divided into two: Peninsular Malaysia with its amazing cities, forested highlands and fringing islands, and east Malaysia, north of the island of Borneo with its dense rain forests, orangutans and animist tribes. Geographically, Malaysia is almost as diverse as its culture. 11 states and 2 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) form Peninsular Malaysia which is separated by the South China Sea from East Malaysia which includes the 2 states (Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) and a third federal territory, the island of Labuan.
Malaysia’s policy for the tourism sector is to ensure a comfortable environment to all Muslims family tourists in line with its Islamic lifestyle. Moreover, the Malaysian government bans any activities that violate Islamic laws to let Arab tourists feel that they are in a Muslim country. At the same time, the government is careful to prove the country has a halal tourism sector targeting a large number of tourists from Arab Gulf countries.
The road to Kuala Lumpur (KL):
Kuala Lumpur is the biggest city of Malaysia and one of the top ten most visited cities. It is not surprising to find a wide range of hotels there to suit all budgets, ranging from international luxury class hotels, medium range hotels and the hotels for the truly budget conscience traveler. This is apart from the numerous youth hostels that are tucked away behind the backstreets of Bukit Bintang shopping district.
In addition, there is also the homestay program where visitors can really experience what genuine Malaysian hospitality is all about, amid the tranquil countryside, by staying in a Malay village.
For the convenience of weary travelers, there are two international class hotels in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). They are the Concorde Inn KLIA and the Pan Pacific KLIA. Both are within 5 minutes of walking distance from the arrival hall. The Concorde Inn KLIA is a 5-Star 338-room hotel with four types of rooms. There are “Superior” rooms, “Deluxe” rooms, “Executive” and “Suites.
The Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport is another 5-Star hotel located near the main terminal of KLIA. The Pan Pacific KLIA makes a great place to unwind after a long and tiring journey. The facilities here are top class and in fact the Pan Pacific KLIA is also the first hotel in Asia to ever use a Digital Food and Beverage Menu.
When you journey to Kuala Lumpur from KLIA, you will enjoy the green areas and farms on either side of the road. Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate which is warm and sunny, along with abundant rainfall, while temperatures tend to remain constant around the year.
Bukit Bintang:
A lot of tourists especially from Arab countries prefer to stay in Hotel Istana which is located near Bukit Bintang also known as “Arab Street.” Rooms at Hotel Istana are fully air conditioned and feature large windows overlooking the scenic cityscape of Kuala Lumpur. Each room is equipped with a cable satellite TV, tea and coffee making facilities and free wired Internet.
In addition, the well-equipped fitness center features a personal trainer, as well as yoga and salsa classes. Guests may also relax with massage treatments and a spa bath at Sompoton Spa. Urban Restaurant also offers an Asian and International menu, while Taman Sari Brasserie serves Malaysian buffet-style dishes. Drinks may be enjoyed at The Sports Bar or Songket Lounge. Fresh cakes and bread are also available at The Deli.
The location of Hotel Istana helps Arab tourists to visit Arab Street which includes a lot of Arab restaurants and cafes. The street is also a commercial center including many stores for shopping. Arab Street is packed with tourists from July to September when many tourists from Arabia come to Malaysia for vacation. Many Arabs flee their countries during that period to avoid the burning temperatures in the Middle East. Ain Arabia is also a haven for Middle Eastern food lovers.
There are a number of restaurants which serve Arabian cuisine such as the Sahara Tent Restaurant which is located at Hotel Fortuna Kuala Lumpur. The attractions at Ain Arabia were initially intended for the foreign tourists but now this place is frequently visited by many locals as well.
If you would like to bite into some really good authentic Arabian food and experience the Middle Eastern lifestyle without having to travel to the Middle East, come on over to Ain Arabia. There are other attractions around Ain Arabia since it is so close to Bukit Bintang.
This street is also near the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur which is a shopping mall. It was built on the former site of Bukit Bintang Girls School, the oldest school in Kuala Lumpur. It was opened on Sept. 20, 2007 and consists of four major components: a retail mall, an office tower, two residential and a proposed hotel.
There are several fashion and luxury goods boutiques that encompass a large portion of the mall’s retail floor area. Several eateries and cafés also exist in the shopping mall like fast food restaurants and coffee chains. Anchor stores include Parkson and the Singaporean departmental store.
Best malls in KL:
Kuala Lumpur has the best shopping experiences where bargains can be found. There are 5 top favorites for the best malls in the city. Suria KLCC which is an extravagant mall is located directly underneath the Petronas Twin Towers building, which was formerly the world’s tallest building.
It’s a 6-story mall, which includes many of the top designer brands from both Asia and Europe. During the year, prices are quite high, but during the annual Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival held in August, you will see prices slashed up to 80 percent. Bargains here during sale times are some of the best in Kuala Lumpur, especially because you’re getting high-end items for a great price.
Also, there is Bukit Bintang and Sungei Wang Plaza which are technically two malls right next to each other and connected in various places throughout the two buildings. They are right next to the hotel I stay at, so I spend a lot of time here. They are also right next to the monorail that originates at the main train station, so are easy to get to.
Berjaya Times Square. Billed as one of Asia’s largest shopping malls, Berjaya Times Square is truly huge. Its many floors seem to stretch up to the skies, and the view from the ground floor up is breathtaking. This is also the shopping mall where contestants from the Amazing Race Asia rappel down to the ground floor from the eighth floor: scary stuff.
One Utama is a bit out of the way, as it’s in a residential area of KL outside the city. I took the train to the Kelana Jaya LRT stop and then got off and took a taxi, which got me there in an additional 7 minutes or so. One Utama has 6 floors and around 600 shops. It’s known for its tropical indoor rainforest with many species of tropical plants and flowers. Here you can get something to eat or drink at one of the delightful cafes and restaurants in the rainforest. It also has a great kid’s entertainment section and a bowling alley, rock climbing arena and movie theater.
Mid-Valley Mega Mall is the most popular mall in the city, which you can easily get to by taking a bus from KLCC right to its doorstep. It is anchored by several large department stores or megamarts including Jusco, Carrefour and Metrojaya. It also has a few hundred other stores, two hotels, a large bookstore and several enormous food courts. Add a bowling alley, Kuala Lumpur’s largest cinema complex, an amusement arcade and over 100 places to eat, and you could spend all day and night here.
Entertainments:
Safari Lagoon Rooftop Water Theme Park is one of the most unique tourist attractions in the country. Safari Lagoon Rooftop Water Theme Park is located on the 7th floor of Pandan Safari Lagoon Shopping Complex. It covers about 2 acres and is able to hold around 3,000 people. Once inside, never-ending fun follows. You can leave your child inside the theme park while you continue your shopping. The place is adorned with lots of animal sculptures and verdant sceneries to maintain the safari look of the theme park.
Desa WaterPark is a genuine family entertainment water park filled with exciting and thrilling facilities. It boasts of having the longest Master Blaster in all of Asia called the “Thunderbolt.” With plenty of regular water slides and three wave pools, it is understandable why the locals love this place so much. Desa WaterPark occupies about 5 hectares of space to provide fun under the sun with its 12 water rides. A perfect place to spend special occasions, the water park is complete with food stalls, lockers, restrooms, an amphitheater and a souvenir shop.
Istana Budaya is considered to be one of the most sophisticated theaters, and is consistently voted as one of the world’s top 10 theaters. It primarily serves as a venue for the performing arts with a seating capacity of 1,469.
One of the unique attributes of Istana Budaya is that it has four adjustable stages which can be moved depending upon the requirements of the show. Aside from the regularly featured performances, the building itself is a wonderful attraction which displays intricate Malay architecture. Istana Budaya is one of the country’s most prominent landmarks and you will surely enjoy your time adoring its structure or spending the night with a date watching a featured performance.
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Malaysia’s halal tourism attracts Muslims from all over the world
Malaysia’s halal tourism attracts Muslims from all over the world
Wildlife center to explore caves in Saudi Arabia’s north
- The program to explore biodiversity in caves was launched “due to its environmental significance and positive impact on wildlife”
RIYADH: Teams from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife will begin examining various caves in the Northern Borders region as part of the Caves Exploration Program, which began in 2022.
It comes as part of a larger program that monitors ecosystems and biodiversity throughout the Kingdom.
These sites will be added to an international map of biodiversity and natural heritage hotspots as historical ecosystems and natural biological museums.
Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, CEO of the center, explained that the discoveries in the caves hold significant historical environmental value for Saudi Arabia.
“The cave ecosystems serve as a historical museum, providing evidence of the biological diversity that has existed in the Kingdom throughout various historical eras, as well as the spatial, environmental, and climatic changes in the Arabian Peninsula,” he explained.
The cave ecosystems serve as a historical museum, providing evidence of the biological diversity that has existed in the Kingdom throughout various historical eras.
Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, National Center for Wildlife CEO
Qurban added that these unique ecosystems provide a suitable environment for a wide range of organisms, as evidenced by the discovery of numerous skeletons of different types of mammals.
The program to explore biodiversity in caves was launched “due to its environmental significance and positive impact on wildlife.”
The center is currently completing studies on the targeted cave sites and documenting their importance within an integrated program.
According to Qurban, the center’s earlier discovery of several Arabian cheetah mummies in a cave in the northern part of the Kingdom — with some skeletons estimated to be over 4,000 years old — provided the first evidence of the species’ presence in the Kingdom.
Consequently, the center plans to develop a program for the resettlement of the Arabian cheetah in the Kingdom, enabling it to play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance.
Qurban noted that, among other significant discoveries, researchers from the center discovered rare bats and the remains of several extinct animals.
The center is currently working on classifying these finds and determining their ages. This effort will facilitate the resettlement of these extinct species or their closest genetic relatives, thereby restoring their role.
The cave ecosystem is one of the rarest and most important of its kind in the world, recognized as natural heritage by UNESCO.
There are 1,826 caves in the Kingdom, consisting of underground passages and tunnels formed by natural processes in dry limestone areas — evidence of a historical era that experienced prolonged rainy climatic conditions.
Baha’s quaint guesthouses offer a warm welcome
- Sharifa Al-Ghamdi, owner of Al-Ayed Heritage Guesthouse, revealed that she has worked hard over the years to acquire as many historic houses as possible to be able to give tourists an authentic taste of what life was like in the past
RIYADH: Al-Baha is a region of the Kingdom blessed with a rich legacy of ancient architecture, with heritage lodges playing a big role in luring tourism to the city.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, heritage lodges or guesthouses in the region play an important role in attracting more investment. They provide local and international visitors with a look into the past, a taste of a simpler time that many people long for.
The guesthouses are a reflection of the region’s heritage. Al-Baha’s residential buildings, castles and fortresses were designed to suit not just environmental variables such as topography and climate, but also social circumstances such as local customs and ancient traditions.
FASTFACTS
• Heritage lodges or guesthouses in the Baha region play an important role in attracting more investment.
• One of the most enticing elements of these heritage guesthouses is their deep connection with nature.
One of the most enticing elements of these heritage guesthouses is their deep connection with nature.
They are constructed using stones and trees from the region, typically granite and basalt boulders adorned with quartz, and roofed with mud-coated juniper trees.
Sharifa Al-Ghamdi, owner of Al-Ayed Heritage Guesthouse, revealed that she has worked hard over the years to acquire as many historic houses as possible to be able to give tourists an authentic taste of what life was like in the past.
She said that, with the assistance of her family, she was able to realize her lifelong dream and passion and invest her post-retirement time in establishing heritage tourist guesthouses.
She has transformed the old houses in her village from dilapidated structures into a tourist and environmental attraction for people in search of tranquility and relaxation.
All is rosy in Taif as fans flock to flower festival
- Taif’s annual show features a floral carpet of over million flowers
- Farmers, vendors optimistic about increase in sales at the event
JEDDAH: Visitors are flocking to the 19th Taif Rose Festival at Al-Raddaf Park where the flowers are in full bloom, highlighting the region’s rich floral heritage.
The festival, themed “Qetaf” meaning “picking time,” coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. The organizers include the Taif Rose Cooperative Society and Taif Municipality.
There has been an impressive turnout of Taif residents and domestic and international tourists. The exhibitors — mostly farmers and vendors — are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.
Abdullah Altwairqi, a local farmer and festival participant, said: “Participating in the Taif Rose Festival has become a tradition for me. The atmosphere improves each year, and the revenue and exposure we receive from visitors make it worthwhile.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Exhibitors at the Taif Rose Festival are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.
• The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.
• It covers 5,206 square meters and was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.
At his booth, Altwairqi showcased various flowers and fruit, including Taif roses, peaches, prickly pears, figs, mulberries, grapes, blackberries, pomegranates, as well as aromatic plants.
Altwairqi urged people to visit the Rose Flavor cafe where they can savor hot and cold beverages infused with the flavor of Taif roses and other aromatic flowers including lavender, which is also abundant in the region.
The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park left visitors awestruck. Covering 5,206 square meters, it was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.
Faiz Al-Thibaiti, director-general of media and corporate communication at Taif Municipality, told Arab News: “The flower carpet was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.”
He said the carpet has ensured the event has become “one of the most important tourism festivals in the Kingdom, attracting thousands of visitors and tourists from various regions of the country.”
NUMBER
70k
The rose-picking season in Taif starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.
The decorations adorning the flower carpet draw inspiration from the intricate designs found on the walls and facades of Taif’s ancient structures, including Al-Kaki Palace in Al-Salama and King Saud Palace.
Al-Thibaiti added: “Preparations for the festival started early, with the Taif Rose Cooperative Society detailing participation criteria to highlight Taif roses, including their cultivation, harvesting, and distillation into fine perfumes. This adds to Taif’s unique tourist appeal. The festival provides a platform for producers, experts, and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and boost this important sector.”
Among the highlights are the rose and flower path, product stalls, goods market, government booths, and the agricultural nursery.
Interactive fountain shows accompanied by national tunes were also among the attractions, with a crossing to the upper pedestrian bridge from where visitors can view the massive flower carpet.
Artwork, flower arrangements, and hanging floral baskets scattered throughout the park added to the flair of the event.
Al-Thibaiti said: “The significant turnout at the current festival comes amid increasing rose production year after year, indicating the success of this agricultural sector in achieving high revenues while continuing to promote the Taif rose product.”
Taifrosethon
The five-day Taifrosethon began on May 7, which is being held to encourage entrepreneurship in the region with technological solutions to enrich the industry.
The event includes various skills training and technical workshops covering trade, cultural heritage, and tourism.
The top-three winners will receive $2,666, $1,866 and $1,333 respectively. Participants are required to enter as teams, each with three to five members.
Taif’s roses
The Taif province produces more than 200 million roses each season. According to the local chamber of industry, each tree produces an average of 250 roses daily throughout the harvest season, which lasts for about 45 days.
The rose-picking season starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.
Taif roses feature an exquisite, sweet fragrance and vibrant pink hues on delicate petals, and are a hallmark of the region’s natural beauty.
Cultivated in the high-altitude climate of Taif, these roses thrive in the cool temperatures and fertile soil of the region.
They are meticulously harvested by hand to preserve their quality, with the petals carefully collected for various purposes.
AlUla Academy aims to be hub for tourism vocational training in Saudi Arabia and beyond
- Hotel.School chosen as global partner for hospitality training and the academy will welcome its first group of students in early July
ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla on Tuesday officially launched AlUla Academy, described as a pioneering initiative that aims to be a beacon across the region for excellence in vocational training in the tourism sector.
It will serve as a global hub, officials said, for workers directly involved in crafting memorable experiences for diverse groups of visitors to AlUla from around the globe.
Hotel.School has been chosen as the academy’s global partner for hospitality training, and the collaboration will begin with an inaugural digital training program for the first group of students in early July. Subsequent programs will be available through the academy’s website.
Authorities in the Kingdom are carefully developing historic AlUla, an ancient oasis in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, as a global tourist destination distinguished by its 7,000-year-plus history, spanning several civilizations.
It encompasses four primary heritage sites and a wide selection of visitor experiences which, the Royal Commission said, offer tourists the chance to immerse themselves in the region’s rich heritage and culture, take advantage of its wellness offerings, bask in the beauty of nature, indulge in the arts, and embark on and voyage of discovery.
The establishment of the academy therefore stands as a pioneering endeavor within the field of tourism, it added, and a cornerstone of efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development and diversification plan, one of the aims of which is to create 1.3 million jobs for Saudi citizens.
Philip Jones, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s chief tourism officer, said: “Learning centers such as AlUla Academy play a pivotal role in creating job opportunities while upholding excellence in visitor experiences to international standards, all while maintaining an authentic Saudi essence.
“Both physically and digitally, AlUla Academy will expedite the training process, enhancing the quality and efficiency of professional skill development, thereby advancing the tourism sector’s goals in the Kingdom.”
The guests at the launch ceremony on Tuesday included Anita Mendiratta, special advisor to the UN secretary-general at the UN World Tourism Organization. Also a member of the Royal Commission’s advisory board between 2017 and 2023, and one of the key figures behind the development of the academy, she emphasized the organization’s steadfast commitment and dedication to the enhancement of visitor experiences through the development of local skills.
“The key to AlUla’s development lies in embracing authenticity and prioritizing community engagement,” Mendiratta said.
“The Royal Commission for AlUla understands that reaching tangible milestones necessitates investing in skill development, providing services with international standards, yet infusing them with the distinct essence of AlUla that echoes its environment, the culture of its people, and their profound history.”
Hotel.School was carefully chosen as a global partner for AlUla Academy, the commission said, following a rigorous selection process to identify the most suitable collaborator to bolster its endeavors and help achieve its objectives. To that end, it will offer intelligent educational solutions and collaborate with developers of cutting-edge technologies to provide a diverse array of online-learning experiences, officials said. Further information about courses, registration procedures and criteria for the selection of students will be available soon.
Adnan Sawadi, the acting director of Hotel.School, said the institution is committed to supporting the commission in its mission to achieve excellence in vocational training across AlUla, the Kingdom and the wider region.
“At Hotel.School, we recognize that the vitality of the hospitality sector is its people, and we take pride in our pivotal role in nurturing and developing the skills essential to fortifying AlUla’s position as a global tourism and hospitality hub,” he said.
“Our commitment extends to fostering an educational environment that resonates with the region’s rich heritage, amplifying its cultural significance on the global stage.”
AlUla has received significant acclaim and been described as a beacon of success in the field of tourism development and the enhancement of local skills, the commission said. It attracted 263,000 visitors in 2023 alone and consistently surpasses the targets set for it, officials said, increasingly bringing it to the attention of leading event organizers, investors, development partners, airlines and the international media.
Ryan Reynolds named Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island ambassador
DUBAI: Unmasked as the mystery skydiving celebrity who appeared in a recent teaser campaign for the Abu Dhabi location, Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is Yas Island’s newest “Chief Island Officer.”
The “Deadpool” actor takes up the role after US actor Jason Momoa, who in turn took over from US comedian Kevin Hart.
In the new promotional video, Reynolds is seen parachuting straight into the heart of the action amidst speeding cars on Yas Marina Circuit, missing his intended landing spot at the W Abu Dhabi.
“I've been an actor, a producer, a Welsh football club owner and I could go on. So I will …" begins Reynolds, but the rest of his speech is drowned out by the roar of F1 cars as they zoom around the circuit.
The trailer also features the actor enjoying the sights and sounds of Yas Island, as he zooms down water slides at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, explores Gotham City and takes rollercoaster rides at Warner Bros. World.
"With the appointment of Ryan Reynolds as our latest chief island officer of Yas Island Abu Dhabi, we continue the tradition of excellence established by Kevin Hart and Jason Momoa. Reynolds brings his own unique blend of charisma, energy, and enthusiasm to the role, promising to elevate the Yas Island experience to even greater heights. We're thrilled to embark on this exhilarating journey with him, inviting fans worldwide to be part of the legacy," said Liam Findlay, chief executive of Miral Destinations.
